Getting to the Heart of Christmas: How One Inner City Program Is Changing Children's Lives

For most of my life, I lived in Los Angeles, second only to New York City as the most populous city in the US. The “city of Angels” is a world leader in business, entertainment, culture, fashion, sports, and the like, and regarded as the third richest and fifth most powerful city in the world. As a popular travel destination and highly sought-out relocation city, it’s difficult to comprehend that in the midst of it’s wealth and prosperity, Los Angeles streets are home to some of the poorest, most disadvantaged individuals in the country.

As a young adult working at a Downtown hospital, I was all too familiar with the hopelessness that permeated the streets in the surrounding vicinity. What was so striking about working in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles was the fact that just 20 minutes away lies the city’s epitome of affluence.

This Christmas, Walmart is giving back to communities in need. This is the fourth year the organization is partnering with NBC’s Today Show to present Getting to the Heart of Christmas where Walmart helps to make the holiday special for families, organizations, and communities who have lost everything. This year, Walmart’s giving efforts will focus on Center, Texas, New York City, and Los Angeles.

With LA being so close to my heart, I thought I’d share what Walmart did for elementary school children in one of the roughest parts of Downtown Los Angeles…

Across the street from Skid Row is the last place you’d expect to see anything creative or beautiful. But that is exactly what Inner City Arts is…a creative haven for children living in the heart of Los Angeles. Even if you don’t live in LA, you’ve likely heard about the state of our public education system. Budget cuts have eliminated arts programs, with 29 percent of California public schools offering no arts study at all. Those children within the LA Unified School District are among the most at-risk for dropping out of school given their income level and heritage.

In this particular LA-focused segment, we’ll see how art has helped inner city students in LA positively express themselves while altering their course away from the drugs, alcohol, and gangs that are so prevalent in this area. Walmart will surprise 180 elementary school children and their teacher with items needed for the Inner City Arts program. Some of the items gifted include computers for graphic design, costumes for dramatic arts, and a $5,000 donation to the teachers and the center. Each student will also take home art supplies and a toy, and graduating seniors will be gifted with a $100 gift card.

Walmart Interview (Jorge) from CW Los Angeles on Vimeo.

This is the Heart of Christmas.

If you missed the segment, you can watch it here:

And for more stories showcasing how Walmart is giving back this holiday season, visit the following sites:

Linsey from Lille Punkin’

Lynnae from Freelance Homeschool Mom

Colleen from Classy Mommy

Renee from Cutie Booty Cakes

Liz from Hoosier Homemade

I participate in the Walmart moms program and am compensated for my time and honest opinions.

Images: Walmart

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Caryn Bailey

Caryn is a NICU nurse by day, blogger by night and mom 24/7. She savors the warm Southern California sun and loves to travel, shopping, baking, reading and frequenting her local tea room. Caryn created the column Lavishly Green for Peekaboo Picks Magazine to share her best tips for going green in style, she is the Former editor for Family Review Network, former OC Family Magazine online contributor, former Orange County Moms Blog contributor, former Evenflo Savvy Parent contributor, former member of the Totsy Advisory Board and former freelance writer for CBS Los Angeles.